Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Abby Glassenberg from While She Naps, and author of Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction
, shares an honest and eye-opening discussion of pattern testing (or the lack of) in sewing books. One would assume that all of the projects you see in books have tested before publication, but it turns out that the typical publication budget doesn’t allow for that. Read her post (and join the conversation) at While She Naps.
[photo from While She Naps]
I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store. So much texture! And the way the fibers catch the light! But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think. That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl. That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared. And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet.
Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects. Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter. Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long.
Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success. There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid. She describes the different types of velvet available. And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric. Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric. There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.
Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric.
And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.
[photo credit: Melly Sews]
I don’t normally leave comments but after reading this post I was compelled to give my two cents! As a compulsive crafter and a book lover I have forked over more money than I would like to think for tons of different craft books. I really had no idea that a lot of the patterns in these types of books weren’t peer reviewed! It is so frustrating to get into a project only to get totally tied up by following the pattern! I understand that mistakes happen and that’s OK every once in a while, but to have completely have to scrap a project multiple times from the same book and/or author should be unacceptable! I buy those types of books for the patterns. If the patterns don’t work you’re looking at a $20 coaster or paper weight.
Thanks for the eye-opening post!